NJ Transit runs ALP/45-DP into New York Penn Station
At: 4:10 P.M. today, NJ-ARP Director Jishnu Murkerji sent the following e-mail to fellow Directors:
Heads up....
There are some yet to be verified reports that certain trains are running to new York Penn Station powered by ALP45DPs today. I have heard this report from two sources but have not been able to get independent verification yet. If this is the case then this is a first.
Jishnu.
At: 4:54 P.M. Jishnu sent another email:
New York bound arriving at Short Hills in Diesel mode. Cat is out today for servicing. Will change to Electric mode at Newark Broad to head into NYP. I am on this train. A photo of the engine accompanied this e-mail.
At: 5:54 P.M. Jishnu sent the following e-mail:
Just arrived in NYPS on time and of course in Electric mode.
Jishnu
At: 7:49 P.M. Jishnu was back home and sent the following e-mail:
Now that I am back home some quick reflections....
They ran 8 car MLV and 8 car Comet sets powered by a single ALP45-DP in all cases.
8 Car train platformed at track 2 where it just barely fits.
Getting a slot for a 6 car RVL train is going to be another matter altogether
Both the power transitions went smoothly in both directions. On the NY bound run the transition from 25kV to 12kV took a little longer than usual. Don’t know why. And that was the direction where the locomotive was manned and operated locally. In the reverse direction back to Dover it was operated remotely from the cab car.
Performance was generally satisfactory. In the Midtown Direct operations there was relatively little discernible difference between being pulled by an ALP46 and an ALP45-DP. In D mode acceleration was a little sluggish, but that is too be expected due to the lower HP. The electric traction part is superb, just like on the ALP46.
These engines are truly quiet in D mode. They have been running up and down by my apartment twice an hour and I simply have not noticed any additional noise. In comparison when a GP40 thunders by, boy we can tell for sure. PL42s are quieter than GP40s but not as quiet as these puppies when accelerating up the Summit ramp by here.
I don't see why they would not be able to substitute in a few 10xx Montclair-Boonton trains for the MSU - NYP runs during rush hours.
Off peak and weekends they should be able to run at least some through trains from Bay Head if they so desired. Maybe they should seriously consider New York to Bay Head Beach specials this summer.
The operation was so routine and uneventful, that virtually no one noticed. That is a true sign of a successful launch.
On the NEC there did not appear to be any special speed restrictions imposed on these trains. They ran pretty much at the same speed as ALP46 powered Midtown Directs as far as I could tell.
Jishnu
The Hudson Ocean has been traversed by a Dual-Powered locomotive.
